Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-03

the hotel allows him the use Of letter
box, 80 that oil his mail is sent TO the
hotel. He walks in there every morn
ing, and asks in a lond tone Of voice.
30 that every one can hear him Is
there any mail in my boxg Then
those who hear this wonder how the
man can afford 10 live at the hotel.
During the dry this well-known cha
racter, whose title is colonel. meets any
number of prominent men from oil
| parts OF the country. Some OF these
gentlemen want 10 be informed about
the best places Of amusement, and tho
Colonel, who is well posted upon such
matters, as, indeed, upon all Others,
| gladly gives them the desired iuforma-
ton. Possibly he gives them points
on the stock market, and should they
prove profitable the Colonel may share
IN the result. Among other things, he
may possibly recommend his friends TO
a tailor, and he is sure 10 have tailor
know il, as it will make great differ
ence with him when he wants suit OF
clothes for himself.
Nine times ont Of ten he will be in-
vited ont to dinner. But once in u
while he fails in this, and he slips of
and takes dinner all alone at some
| cheap restaurant. He always waits
until the place is about deserted, aud
then he hides himself away in acorner.
] saw him in one of these restaurants
the other night. aud when he saw me
he tried TO hide behind a newspaper.
When went up and spoke to him he
acted as if lie had been caught trying
TO slip some Of the tableware in lis
pocket.
"Do you see that lady and gentle
| man over there at that table ?" ne I'M
mediaiely asked. "Well, there is a
peculiar circumstance connected with
them, and i came here simply to have
| chance 10 study them"
pretended 10 believe his explana-
ton 10y remarking that man OF his
taste could hardly bring himself to eat
in cheap restaurant.
A hotel clerk told me there were any
number of men here Just like the Colo
mel, and for their accommodation the
hotels rent letter-boxes. In return for
| the rent of these boxes the hotel .peo-
pie pretend that these fellows live in
| the hotel. BY this means they make
their friends believe they are living in
expensive style, when probably 1893
year will pay their actual expenses.
Most of this money is borrowed.
THE YOUNG MAN.
| There is no greater mystery in the
world to me than the average New York
young man. How he manages to dress
and live as he does battles the keenest
scouting. There may be some among
the many who have occasional assist
ance from home, but the great MAORI
ty depend upon their own resources.
| On q salary that is meagre and with no
outside income they live like men OF
wealth and position.
In the Hoffman House few nights
ago was talking idly with one of the
conventional New York young men on
| this subject. He started i'll to talk
about himself and his affairs, and | was
| glad to have him ramble on, as it int
rested me. Probably no class or grade
Of the New York young man is more
familiar than the type which he repre-
sents. He might be anywhere from
twenty-eight to thirty-fve years old.
has a neat figure. stands erect, waves
bis hand in cordial greeting to his
| friends, dresses admirably, is well
booted and gloved, wears spotless linen
and n handsome scarf, and knows all
the bar-tenders, politicians, and men
about-town in the place. If you
look at the face closely you will see
many fine wrinkles, and the eyes are not
always bright and alert, but whether
this comes from too much dissipation
or too little good food and sleep it
would be hard to tell. He is man
who would be picked out anywhere for
New Yorker, and he is always an en-
tertaining companion.
at is said" he remarked, "that one
half the world does not know how the
other half lives. Truest thing in the
world. City men-as we who are in
business down town begin to call our
selves-know better how to live in New
York than any one else in town. Do
you know why? Because we live in
public places and spend our money ju-
dicously. How much do you suppose
| il costs me to live ?"
( about So, 600 year"
"Phew Why, if had an income OF
that size I'd trot about with the Van
derbilts and Astors. If you want a
lesson in economy take pencil and
figure out my weekly expenses.
"Well," / said, beginning to make
hieroglyphics over the back Of the bill
of fore. "Say three suits of clothes a
wear at $40 suit, that's S2l0 shoes at
| S1O-say three pair, $50 linen, fan
nels, hats, canes, umbrellas, gloves,
etc, say S30-that's $500, divided by
80, makes it about $3.50 a week. Ill
begin with that.
Clothes, boots, oe
Beard ~ ~ ~
Two extra dinners. ...........s..'.'s''.' ~ W.
/ & a. w